Free accommodation in Dubai? Couchsurfing and other alternatives

Sleeping for free while travelling

Hotels, apartments, hostels... for some, accommodation is the most important thing when travelling, a measure of comfort and a successful holiday, while others can sleep anywhere, because they will be lying on the beach all day anyway, right? Accommodation costs are always an important part of the holiday budget.

Backpackers and young travellers often choose cheap, basic accommodation options, while parents with children and tourists looking for comfort aim for more comfortable sleeping arrangements on holiday. However, you have probably heard of sleeping for free.

Sleeping at friends' houses, websites offering free accommodation, as well as exchanges of accommodation for work or pet sitting – there are many ways to find free accommodation. Even some airlines offer free hotels for long layovers between flights. But is this possible in Dubai? Where to sleep for free in Dubai? What are the ways to do this? In this article, you will also learn: Is couchsurfing legal in the UAE? and other most important information about free accommodation in Dubai.

Remember that the best accommodation (not free, but at a great price combined with excellent quality) in Dubai can be booked at the Two Continents travel agency: buy a trip package to Dubai and save on accommodation and attractions in a joint package with insurance and the assistance of an English-speaking tour guide.

Is it possible to stay overnight in Dubai without paying any fees?

Free accommodation in Dubai – is it even possible? Yes, it is possible to stay in Dubai for free; there are several proven ways to do so. It can be a hotel or a private flat: it depends on whether it is an offer from an airline or accommodation with a so-called ‘host’, i.e. a private owner. Local accommodation in Dubai: what do we mean? Offers of free accommodation from websites such as couchsurfing.

How does couchsurfing work in Dubai?

If you are not familiar with the idea of couchsurfing, here is a brief explanation: Couchsurfing is a website and social network that connects travellers with people who offer free accommodation in their homes. Users can offer or search for accommodation, and the aim is to establish interpersonal contacts and learn about new cultures. The only fee incurred by the user is account verification ($25 for lifetime verification) and an annual fee of $14.29 (for annual billing).

Couchsurfing is an amazing idea that allows you to stay for free all over the world while meeting new people and experiencing local culture. Is couchsurfing legal in Dubai? Yes, couchsurfing is legal in Dubai and the couchsurfing platform covers the entire United Arab Emirates. According to the platform www.couchsurfing.com, there are currently 87,235 flat owners in Dubai offering free accommodation on this platform. Staying with local residents in Dubai can be a unique opportunity to get to know the city from a local's perspective. Stay with a Dubai resident if you have the spirit of a traveller and want to experience a real adventure.

Once you meet a cool host and want to explore the city with them, book attractions in Dubai and set off on a city tour with a real local.

What are the safe options for free accommodation in Dubai?

Tourists have different options for free accommodation in Dubai. You can experience an adventure by sleeping at local residents' homes through Couchsurfing.com. Another way is to volunteer for accommodation in Dubai. What is it? Work exchange Dubai, or volunteering in exchange for accommodation, will be explained later in the article, but it is not a popular method of sleeping in the United Arab Emirates. What are the alternative forms of accommodation in Dubai? How to find a free place to stay in Dubai? Read on to find out more.

If you are interested in cheap accommodation in Dubai and are not interested in couchsurfing or working for accommodation, check out the cheapest accommodation options in Dubai from Two Continents. Alternative accommodation to free accommodation in the UAE includes: the Barsha Retreat apartment in the Barsha Heights district, ideal for couples, close to Dubai Marina and the metro, and Princess Bahar and Princess Palm, offering luxury in the Princess Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world, for less than 70 euro per night. Would you like to win a free night in Dubai? Follow the Two Continents Facebook profile, where competitions for free accommodation or a free trip to Dubai are held regularly.

Free accommodation in Dubai for backpackers

Can backpackers sleep for free in Dubai? No, backpackers do not have free accommodation options in Dubai designed specifically for them. Backpacking in Dubai is not popular, so there are no free hostels or campsites. Backpackers can take advantage of a wide range of cheap accommodation in hostels, located mainly in the so-called ‘Old Dubai’, i.e. the districts of Deira and Bur Dubai.

Free accommodation in Dubai from airlines

Emirates Airlines offers its passengers the Dubai Connect service (transfer in Dubai). What is Dubai Connect? How to get free accommodation during a transfer in Dubai? For eligible passengers, Emirates offers free transfers, hotel accommodation, meals and an entry visa to the UAE. The service can only be booked if the connecting flight is the fastest possible according to the airline's schedule. Dubai Connect services are available to passengers who have to wait for a connecting flight for 8 to 26 hours when travelling in Premium Economy or Economy class, as stated on the airline's website. If you are travelling in first class or business class, the waiting time for a connecting flight is between 6 and 26 hours.

This is a great option for a comfortable, free overnight stay in Dubai during a layover and a chance not only to rest in comfortable conditions. It is also an opportunity to visit Dubai, preferably during a trip called Layover in Dubai.

Are there hostels with work exchange in Dubai?

Hostels or free accommodation in exchange for work are a popular option for cheap accommodation around the world. Tourists volunteer at hostels or with private individuals and in exchange for agreed work, they receive free accommodation or other additional benefits. Are there work exchange hostels in Dubai? Although not prohibited in practice, free accommodation in exchange for work is not popular and practically non-existent in Dubai. The most popular websites offering work = free accommodation schemes, such as Workaway, have no listings in Dubai.

Questions and answers (FAQ):

• Is it possible to find free accommodation in Dubai?

Yes, you can find free accommodation in Dubai, for example, by using couchsurfing or the Dubai Connect offer from Emirates airlines, which provides free accommodation, transfers and meals to its passengers during long layovers at Dubai airport.

• Is it possible to stay with Dubai residents?

Yes, you can stay with Dubai residents. If you don't have any friends there, you can use Couchsurfing, a popular website that allows you to stay for free with hosts who offer a place to sleep in their private flats. There are several thousand offers of free accommodation on Couchsurfing in Dubai.

• What are the alternatives to hotels in Dubai?

The best alternatives to hotels in Dubai are private apartments or hostels. Hostels offer low prices and the opportunity to meet new people, while private apartments offer comfort and guaranteed great views of the city if you take advantage of the accommodation in Dubai offered by Two Continents.